Teaching about Mary

Elizabeth and Mary meet at the C-Bar over black coffee and mud cake (2004) Artist Jan Hynes Townsville

John sprinkles water from his drinking mug over Jesus. As adults, John is to baptise Jesus. Black coffee and mud cake: the idealism of their pregnancies has dissipated to into the hard reality of being mothers (the need to have a caffeine and a chocolate fix). John’s blue singlet: blue for water. Jesus’ red lycra swim suit: red for the blood of the cross, arms outstretched in cross position. Other visual references are the same as the previous painting: The Visitation: Elizabeth meets Mary at the C-Bar over skinny decaf cappuccino and carrot cake (2002). Pusher/pram: The curved handles are a reference to a shepherd’s crook, Christ being the Good Shepherd.

The book A Friendly Guide to Jesus has a series of Jan Hynes art works at the beginning of each chapter. Schools have a copy of this book.